Gareth Bale looks primed to make his second Tottenham debut in the Premier League derby at home to West Ham on Sunday, with boss Jose Mourinho suggesting that the man who was once the world's most expensive player has been working well and will "probably" play.
Welsh international Bale has been stepping up his training at Hotspur Way during the international break as he recovers from the knee injury which has so far delayed his Spurs comeback after returning on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
Bale has impressed the club's staff in training this week and Mourinho looks ready to throw him in against the Hammers on Sunday.
"Of course he wants to play. He wanted to play since the day he arrived, and it was not possible," Mourinho said.
"Probably he plays Sunday. If he doesn't, he will on Thursday (against Austrian side LASK in the Europa League), but he's there, he's very, very close.
"What I can tell you is that he's working very well - probably he's working the way he was not able to do for quite a long time.
"The last week and this week, especially Monday or Tuesday, the planning of the sessions had a big focus on him. And he's in pretty good condition.
"We care as much about him as he cares about Tottenham, and we are going to make the best decision for him and for the team.
"It's a physical thing. We don't want him to be rushed. We want him to feel comfortable, we want him to make the decision of, 'Yes I'm ready, yes I'm ready to go'.
The prospect of adding Bale to a front line that put six past Manchester United last time out is a mouth-watering one for Spurs.
"We have a squad where every player has to fight a lot and play very very well to deserve a place in the team," Mourinho added.
"You can see Bale and Sonny (Son Heung-min) playing together, you can see Bale and Sonny both on the bench and I believe you can see Bale and Sonny both together drinking hot tea in a box.
"The squad is so, so good, is so, so strong."
Australian Associated Press
